Dancers Get

A Kick Out

Of Festival

C&w Fans Drawn To Competition

South Florida country and western fans didn't have to travel far to have a good time during the Thanksgiving weekend.

The Fifth Annual Sunshine State Country and Western Dance Festival at the Bonaventure Luxury Resort and Spa drew more than 1,200 fans and some of the nation's top competitive dancers.

"It was a tremendous success," said organizer Grant Austin. "It was bigger and better than ever."

"It was a packed house on Sunday," added Sharon Moscato, who competed with her husband and dance partner, Louie "Uncle Louie" Moscato, of Hollywood. "The festival is always fun."

Dance categories included polka, east coast swing, cha-cha and west coast swing, producing several winners, most from outside Florida.

The Moscatos finished fourth in polka and west coast swing. She and other dancers said competition was stiff.

"Maybe we did not do well enough to impress the judges," said Sharon Moscato, who entered the Sunshine State competition in 1991.

Jim and Vicki Houck, of Fort Lauderdale, finished fourth overall.

"We were really, really ecstatic," said Vicki Houck. "That was the most exciting moment for us."

The Houcks had already participated in 13 national competitions in 1994 and won many of them.

"We have a lot of fun," said Vicki Houck. "But we also work hard for that."

Austin, who owns Dance Connection Studio in Davie, said the festival is one of at least 50 others that take place every year throughout the country. Winners from national competitions qualify to compete in the World's Country and Western Dance Festival, which is scheduled to take place in California in January.

Austin said country and western dance has a promising future in South Florida. His studio, he said, has instructed 12,000 dancers since it opened in 1987. He said there are about 18 such dance clubs throughout South Florida.

"Country and western dance appeals to the mainstream and every age group," Austin said.